At African Aerospace
& Defence 2014 Rheinmetall was displaying its Oerlikon SkyChamp
Enhanced Mission Simulator, the training system for the Skyshield
and the Skyguard
air defence systems. Also on show were cutaway models of the company’s
Ahead ammunition.

Rheinmetall's Skychamp Enhanced Mission Simulator

Based
on the company’s battle-tested Skyguard Air Defence System, the
Skyshield is characterized by excellent combat effectiveness – around
the clock and in all weathers; it is also impervious to electronic countermeasures.

The
need for a 35mm gun-based air defence system able to meet current and
coming requirements led to the recent development and manufacture of the
Oerlikon Skyshield air defence system. Lightweight and compact, it is
the world’s most advanced and effective system for low-level air
defence. The German Bundeswehr has procured the Oerlikon Skyshield MOOTW/C-RAM
(military operations other than war/counter rocket, artillery, mortar)
system under the project name “Mantis” for defending its forward
operating bases.

The Skyshield fire control unit can use the Oerlikon Twin Gun GDF007 as
its effectors. Coupling high precision with a high rate of fire the Twin
Gun GDF007 is designed to fire conventional 35mm rounds as well as Rheinmetall’s
proprietary Ahead airburst ammunition, which features a programmable ejection
point of its sub-projectile payload. It is also possible to upgrade the
combat effectiveness of older Twin Gun GDF005 or Mk V gun systems.

The heart of Rheinmetall’s proprietary Ahead technology is a high-precision
time-delay projectile. At the optimum moment, it ejects a lethal cloud
of heavy metal pellets, reliably neutralizing small and even very small
projectiles, such as rockets, artillery and mortar (RAM) rounds, much
the way a shotgun shell destroys a clay pigeon.

Furthermore, Rheinmetall’s air defence technology is by no means
limited to static defence roles. Mobile applications are equally feasible.
For short-term missions, a truck-mounted version is available which can
be deployed without unloading the system from the truck. This is particularly
useful if the mission involves protecting a succession of different sites
for short periods. Mounting an Oerlikon Skyshield air defence system on
an all-terrain vehicle ensures maximum operational flexibility.

Existing Skyguard systems can also be retrofitted with Ahead technology.
Furthermore, thanks to the modularity of its systems, Rheinmetall is able
to bring additional components into play, readily creating multi-mission
capabilities tailored to the needs of individual clients.